Automatic train-pipe coupling.



J. V. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING. APPLICATION FILED OCT. I3. 1914. RENEWED SEPT. 13. 19:1.

1,2Q5Q798. o Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I Fig.1.

@Hoz HQIAQ J. V. ROBINSON.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 13, 1914. RENEWED SEPT. 13. Ian.

1 ,245,798. Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JOSEPH V. ROBINSON, OF BRANFORD, CONNECTICUT.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE COUPLING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917..

Application filed October 13, "1914., Serial No. 866,473. Renewed September 13, 1917. Serial No. 191,314.

ful Improvements in Automatic Train-Pipe Couplings, of which the following is a specification. 1

Among the objects of my invention are to produce an improved support for train pipe coupling heads which will offer the minimum resistance to coupled heads under all conditions of service, thereby greatly the strain which tends to separate coup ed heads causing leaks, and to provide an improved means for positively ocking such heads together.

To this end my invention consists in the combinations, improvements and constructions hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, 1s a side elevation of my improved train pipe coupling support and lock- .1ng devlce.

Fig. 2, is a front face View thereof.

Fig. 3, is a rear view of the coupling head, taken substantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 4. In this view the spring is omitted.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of my im-, proved support and locking device. In this view the locking member is shown in the service position.

Fig. 5,.is a plan view of the locking member.

Fig. 6,'is a face view of the plate 16 of my improvement. v Fig. 7, is a face view of the base or bracket of my invention, and

Fig. 8, is a rear view thereof showing the stop-25. 5

Referring to the drawings: I attaoh'my improvement to the'usual car coupler 10 as by bolts 11 which pass through the upper extremity of a split base or bracket A, the lower extremity of which is cup shaped, as shown at 12, and has therein a convex partly spherical seat 13 provided with a flared opening 14 corresponding to the shape of the stem 15. A plate 16' having a concave partly spherical socket l7 and having-also an annular seat or hearing 18 for a spring,

is mounted on said convex seat for universal movement. A coupling head B posltioned in front of the base A 15 perforated as at to support the head.

19 and is provided with guiding prongs 20, one of whlch is perforated as at 21.

A fluid conduit C, the walls of which ex-' tend rearwardly of the coupling head B and parallel with the longitudinal axis thereof for a short distance and thence flare laterally of the coupling head, as shown at 22, extends through the coupling head and carries a gasket 23. A stem 15 of less diameter A locking device E having a perforated head 27 surrounds said stem and is provided with an annular-bearing 28 and a vertically extending groove 29, which is mounted on a complementary bearing or rib 30.0n the rear face of the, curved portion 31 of the conduit C. On the side of the longitudinal axis ,of said coupling head B, opposite the side on whicl1.is ..pivoted thehead 27 of the locking member such member is provided with an arm 32a portion 33 of which projects forwardly ofthe conduit into the perforation 21 of one of the guiding prongs 20 of the coupling head B.

The spring D is interposed between the locking device and the plate 16 and rests 'in the seat 18 of the plate and on the bearing 28 of the locking member E and operates to support saidhead' and place it under pressure and to shift the arm 32 of the locking device into theservice position with a varying force depending upon the extent of compr'ession ofthe spring.

When two automatic train pipe couplings provided with my improvement meet 1n the act of coupling, the guiding prongs 20 aline the heads and bring the gaskets 23 into ac curate register. Immediately preceding final engagement the heads engage the tapered face 33 of thearms 32 and force the arms outwardly agalnst the tension of the spring I), which allows proper seating of the heads one upon the other. Further movement of the cars will compress the spring D, virtually the full force of which is then localized on the arm 32 and the locking connection between the arm and the companion coupling head 34, see Fig. 4.

No claim is herein made to the novel features of the particular form of supporting means for a train pipe coupling illustrated and described. The right is reserved to present claims for such novel features in a divisional application.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States lliettersPatent is:

1. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head pro vided with a perforated forwardly extending guiding prong, a fluid conduit for said head, means for locking the head to a coinpanion head, such means comprising a member having a base pivoted relative to said conduit on one side of the longitudinal axis of said coupling head and extending across to the opposite side of said axis, an arm connected with said member and projecting forwardly thereof into the perforation of said guiding prong, and a spring for actuating said locking means.

2. lln an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head having a perforated guiding prong, a base, a stem extending rearwardly of said head through said base, an arm pivoted on one side of the longitudinal axis of said head and extending across to the opposite side of such axis in a plane substantially parallel with the plane of said coupling head and thence projecting forwardly into the perforation of said guiding prong, a bearing on said arm, a plate mounted on said base for universal movement and having a seat, and a spring interposed between said arm and said base and resting in said bearing and on said seat for rotating said arm upon its pivot to lock said coupling head to a companion head.

3. lln an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head having a perforated guiding prong, a base, a fluidconduit, a stem extending rearwardly from said conduit through said base, an arm pivoted on said conduit at one side ofthe longitudinal axis of said head, and extending across to the opposite side of such axis and thence projecting forwardly into the perforation of said guiding prong, said arm being provided with a perforated head through which said stem extends, a bearing on said arm, a plate mounted on said base for universal movement relative thereto and having a seat, and a spring interposed between said arin and said base and resting in na rates said bearing and on said seat for rotating said arm upon its pivot in substantially the horizontal plane to cause the arm to lock said coupling head to a companion head.

4:. In an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a coupling head having a perforated guiding prong, a base, a stern extending rearwardly of said head through said base, an arm pivoted on one side of the longitudinal axis of said head and extending across to the opposite side of such axis and thence projecting forwardly and being provided with a portion which extends into the perforation of said prong, and a spring acting against said arm for shifting the same to the service position and for maintaining said arm in such position under various pressures depending upon the extent of the compression of said spring.

5. lln an automatic train pipe coupling, the combination of a peforated coupling head having a perforated guiding prong, a i'iuid .conduit mounted in the perforation of said head and extending therethrough and carrying a gasket, said conduit being curved laterally of said head at the rear thereof, a base having a perforated cup shaped extremity, a stem projecting from the curved portion of said conduit rearwardly through the perforation in said base, a partly spherical seat in the extremity of said base and surrounding said stem, a plate having a partly spherical socket embracing said seat and having also an annular bearing, a bearing on the curved portion of said conduit, a locking member having a perforated head which head surrounds said stem and rests in the bearing on said conduit on one side of the longitudinal axis of said coupling head, an arm connected with the head of said member and lying onthe side of the longitudinal axis of said coupling head opposite the side on which the head of said member is pivoted and projecting forwardly of said conduit into the perforation of said guiding prong, a spring interposed between said member and said plate and mounted in the annular bearing of the plate and acting against said member for yieldingly sustaining said coupling head and for actuating said member, and a stop on the rear end of said stem for engaging the rear face of said base to limit the forward movement of said coupling head and for cooperating with said spring to support said coupling head.

lln testimony whereof, l have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

.....ros'Errr v. noninson.

1n the presence -of- KATHERINE V. lBoswEEL, M. C. SHERIDAN. 

